craven
Americanadjective
noun
verb (used with object)
idioms
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- cravenly adverb
- cravenness noun
- uncraven adjective
Etymology
Origin of craven
1175–1225; Middle English cravant, cravaunde defeated < Old French craventé, past participle of cravanter to crush, overwhelm (< Vulgar Latin *crepantāre ), influenced by Middle English creaunt defeated ( recreant )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That shift, combined with the algorithm’s demand for attention, has made culture more beige and craven.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025
These craven handovers will have an entirely predictable result: They will only encourage further extortionate suits against news organizations.
From Salon • May 24, 2025
These people are craven dummies, but they do make up a good swath of Canada’s eligible voters.
From Slate • Apr. 29, 2025
She might see it that way, but many voters — including those she most needs to impress — are more likely to see it as annoying and craven.
From Salon • Oct. 22, 2024
"I wish we hadn't helped him. What if they think we're craven too?"
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
